Troy Scott Smith was born and brought up in Yorkshire and it was there amongst the wonderful countryside that he developed an appreciation of plants and later where he began his career in horticulture and it is the natural world that nourishes and inspires him most deeply. Coming from a family of great naturalists, it was no surprise that as a boy he would spend most of his time in the nearby dales seeking out the beautiful and the natural. From the incredible weathered detail of limestone pavement to the exquisite flower-rich meadows of Swaledale. This repeated study over many years of flora and fauna of a specific habitat was fundamental in teaching him patience and importance of observation and it helped to sow the seeds of a life-long love of plants.

His gardening career began in 1987 at Harewood House between Leeds and Harrogate. It was tough introduction and he had to get up at 5 in the morning, catch two buses and walk down a mile long drive before spending the day as the garden boy – washing pots, but he absolutely loved every minute of it.

Later, after some time at College and working at a garden caring for the National Collection of Delphiniums, he joined a landscape design company, working mostly on one garden in northern France, restoring original features and implementing new design.

Troy joined the National Trust (NT) in 1990 and apart from a year as Curator with the Royal Horticultural Society at Hyde Hall he has spent most of the time since working at three NT gardens – two of them – Sissinghurst and Bodnant twice, working both as a gardener and Head Gardener. At the same time he has been fortunate to get involved in other things, and is grateful to the NT for allowing him the freedom to do so. He worked at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney; designed the floral colour spectrum at the Royal Botanic Garden Kew and became interested in photography and was awarded the RHS professional photographer of the year. He continues to enjoy writing and talking about plants and gardens. However, for Troy it’s having a deep, basic and enduring connection with a garden that is most rewarding.

In 2013, Troy returned to Sissinghurst as Head Gardener with a seven-year programme of renewal. Immersing himself in the garden, he slowly developed a way of gardening that places beauty and romance first. Last year, he completed this project which culminated in the re-working of Delos (Vita and Harold’s Grecian Garden at Sissinghurst) working with Dan Pearson.

2020 brings a new garden and a new challenge for Troy. Iford Manor, in the Frome Valley, a few miles from Bradford on Avon, was acclaimed Architect and Garden Designer Harold Peto’s home between 1899 and his death in 1932. Working with the owners he is embarking on an ambitious programme of both garden enhancement and in parts (walled garden and Georgian hanging woodland) restoration.